Последний из Могикан
Chapter 9
"IsleofWight!"repeatedDavid,lookingabouthimwiththatdignitywithwhichhehadlongbeenwonttosilencethewhisperingechoesofhisschool;"’tisabravetune,andsettosolemnwords;letitbesungwithmeetrespect!"
Afterallowingamomentofstillness,toenforcehisdiscipline,thevoiceofthesingerwasheard,inlow,murmuringsyllables,graduallystealingontheear,untilitfilledthenarrowvaultwithsoundsrenderedtreblythrillingbythefeebleandtremulousutteranceproducedbyhisdebility.Themelody,whichnoweaknesscoulddestroy,graduallywroughtitssweetinfluenceonthesensesofthosewhoheardit.ItevenprevailedoverthemiserabletravestyofthesongofDavidwhichthesingerhadselectedfromavolumeofsimilareffusions,andcausedthesensetobeforgottenintheinsinuatingharmonyofthesounds.Aliceunconsciouslydriedhertears,andbenthermeltingeyesonthepallidfeaturesofGamutwithanexpressionofchasteneddelightthatsheneitheraffectednorwishedtoconceal.CorabestowedanapprovingsmileonthepiouseffortsofthenamesakeoftheJewishprince,andHeywardsoonturnedhissteady,sternlookfromtheoutletofthecavern,tofastenit,withamildercharacter,onthefaceofDavid,ortomeetthewanderingbeamswhichatmomentsstrayedfromthehumideyesofAlice.Theopensympathyofthelistenersstirredthespiritofthevotaryofmusic,whosevoiceregaineditsrichnessandvolume,withoutlosingthattouchingsoftnesswhichproveditssecretcharm.
